Fionnan Sheahan: Paddy knows what he heard -- poll pledges have been dumped
Fine Gael's Environment Minister Phil Hogan speaking to on the steps of Government Buildings earlier this week
'PADDY likes to know what the story is." Rather than spending so much time reading Barack Obama's speech from the night of the US presidential election, perhaps Enda Kenny should look back on this quote from his own comments on the night of the 2011 general election results.
Speaking on the 'Late, Late Show' and addressing a group of Fine Gael supporters in the Burlington Hotel, Kenny made it clear he would be telling it straight as the Irish public demands honesty.
While the US president's speech in Grant Park, Chicago, adorns the wall of Kenny's office in Government Buildings and sections of it famously pop up in his speeches, it's doubtful the Taoiseach's corresponding remarks will be cited by any world leaders as a source of inspiration.
However, the Taoiseach did strike an appropriate chord on that night.
Shame he's forgotten those sentiments.
The average member of the public does prefer to get accurate accounts from their elected leaders and demands a high degree of honesty.
The credibility of the previous government was eroded because the public gradually couldn't believe a word their ministers were saying.
Declarations about turning a corner and the worst being over didn't exactly help to build up a bank of goodwill either. The nadir was the denials of the impending IMF-EU bailout as "fiction".
From that point, there was no return for Fianna Fail. The new Fine Gael/Labour Party Coalition came in with a clean slate and arguably had a substantial surplus, too, because it represented a change from the worst.
But ministers in this Government are doing their best to burn up this political capital quite rapidly.
This week alone there have been commitments dumped on property and water taxes, college fees, banning corporate donations and cutting judges' pay. The Government blames the economic crisis. But in some cases it was down to Fine Gael and Labour being downright disingenuous in their pre-election positions.
The Coalition knew a flat-rate charge for homeowners would have to be introduced, yet didn't spell this out.
Will householders be required to pay a charge from 2012? Yes, it's in the agreement with the IMF-EU.
So there's no point in trying to run away from it and pretend it's not happening.
The parties were also aware the increase in college registration charges for this year would have to stand and a return of fees would have to be put on the agenda.
Claims of being misinterpreted just won't wash. Paddy knows what he heard. The IMF-EU bailout does not prevent the Government from banning, as it said it would, corporate donations outright or holding a referendum. Fine Gael knew constitutional issues could arise from impinging upon the rights of specific individuals to make contributions to the political system.
Yet it failed to point out this area of law was "nuanced".
The Government also promised a referendum to allow judges' pay to be cut would be a priority. Presidential-election day allows the Government to run a series of non-contentious referenda. Kenny has said the Coalition is looking at votes on granting the Oireachtas greater investigation powers following the Abbeylara judgment and protection for whistleblowers.
After indications from government insiders that the referendum on judges has been long-fingered, Fianna Fail justice spokesman Dara Calleary asked Kenny yesterday would the judges' pay also be voted on that day?
"We will give some consideration to the matter raised but there has not been a government decision on it yet," said the Taoiseach.
Kenny also needs to realise he will require the heavy-hitters on the Fine Gael ranks when the difficult decisions arises.
Whenever the Labour Party throws a strop over an issue, Kenny is developing a habit of moving to appease the junior partners.
The manner in which he cut Richard Bruton adrift with his "personal agenda" comment hardly augurs well and doesn't encourage any other ministers to run other tough policies up the flagpole.
The co-ordinated attacks on Bruton from the Labour backbenches were matched by virtual silence from Fine Gael.
The cowards on the Fine Gael backbenches ought to remember how Bruton built up their party's credibility on the economy. And credibility is hard won but easily lost.
Just ask Paddy, Enda.
- Fionnan Sheahan
Irish Independent
